Hopper discharge gate actuating mechanism

ABSTRACT

A hopper discharge arrangement includes a plurality of rectangularly disposed sloping walls providing at their lower ends a discharge opening. The opening is controlled by a linkage actuated sliding gate consisting of upper and lower sections movable sideways to an out of the way position to permit the discharge of material through the opening. The gage sections include leading edges with the leading edge of the lower section terminating horizontally rearwardly with respect to the leading edge of the upper section. The gate is movable on wheels supported on shafts which project from the gate through horizontally spaced frame members provided with slots permitting sliding movement of the shaft during gate operation. The slots are sealed by a split sealing member which permits the sliding movement of the shafts while maintaining sealing integrity of the gate.

United States Patent [191 Adler 1 HOPPER DISCHARGE GATE ACTUATING MECHANISM I [75] Inventor: Franklin P. Adler, Michigan City,

. Ind.

[73 I Assignee: Pullman Transport Leasing Company, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: June 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 155,070

[52] U.S. Cl. 105/282 R, 105/305, 222/505 [51] Int. Cl B6ld 7/20, B6ld 7/22, B6ld 7/26 [58] Field of Search 105/282 A, 282 R, 105/282 P, 305; 222/505 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,751,862 6/1956 Dorey .1 105/282 P 2,318,763 5/1943 Ditchfield 222/505 X 502,584 8/1893 Rettig 105/282 A 2,386,702 [0/1945 McBride 105/282 P 2,250,524 7/1941 Dietrichson.. 105/282 A X 1,048,042 12/1912 C0leman.. 105/282 R 975,804 11/1910 Summers [05/282 R 3,529,747 9/1970 Mundinger 105/282 P X [451 July 3,1973

9/1970 Adler 105/305 X 10/1970 Nagy 105/305 X 5 7 ABSTRACT A hopper discharge arrangement includes a plurality of rectangularly disposed slopingwalls providing at their lower ends a discharge opening. The opening is controlled by a linkage actuated sliding gate consisting of upper and lower sections movable sideways to an out of the way position to permit the discharge of material through the opening. The gage sections include leading edges with the leading edge of the lower section terminating horizontally rearwardly with respect to the leading edge of the upper section. The gate is movable on wheels supported on shafts which project from the gate through horizontally spaced frame members provided with slots permitting sliding movement of the shaft during gate operation. The slots are sealed by a split sealing member which permits the sliding movement of the shafts while maintaining sealing integrity of the gate.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 3 I973 SEE! 1 OF 3 INVENTOR FRANKLIN P. ADLER /W 50 Z I. i :r

PATENTED JUL 3 I975 SREEI30F3.

INVENTOR FRANKLIN P. ADLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of art to which the present invention pertains is that of hopper discharge mechanisms and particularly those which discharge by gravity.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art includes those structures as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,536,013; 3,530,803; and 3,529,747. The prior art generally includes gravity gates wherein the gates are moved by a rack and pinion arrangement for controlling the discharge of material from a hopper. Such gates in many instances are difficult to manually operate because of the weight of the material within'the hopper and in some cases because of the type of material which is to be discharged. Also in certain instances wherein powder-like materials are carried in the hopper such as cement, phosphate, and nitrates etc. it is difficult in the conventional gate to adequately seal the same in order to prevent material loss during transit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a prime object of the present invention to provide an improved gravity type gate easily opened regardless of the type of materials used and which has a maximum of sealing integrity so that all types of powdered material can be carried by the hopper. The'present invention includes a gate which comprises upper and lower sections conjointly movable to one side of a discharge opening of a hopper permitting gravity discharge. The lower section of the gate has a leadingedge which terminates rearwardly of the leading edge of the upper gate so that when a discharge of material through the opening is desired, the leading edge of the lower section is positioned out of the way with respect to the leading edge of the upper section. The gate also is moved on rollers or wheels thus permitting free operation of the gate regardless of the material contained within the hopper. Side frame members of the gate are provided with slots which permit the slidingmovement of shafts which support the rollers. The slots also .are closed by a split seal permittingmovement of the .gates while at the same time maintaining sealing integrity of the discharge arrangement. An improved actuating mechanism also has been disclosed as partof the present invention which permits fast opening and closing of the gate with accurate control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS nism; and

FIG. 7 isan enlargeddetail view of theleading edge portions of a gate including-upper and lower sections. Referring now to the drawings,:a hopper discharge arrangement is generally designated by the reference character 10 and includes a hopper 11 comprising a plurality of rectangularly disposed sloping walls 12 and 13. The arrangement 10 includes horizontal front frame members 14 also of sloping configuration and including at its lower edge a front horizontally extending ledge member 15. A horizontal rear frame member 16 is connected to a rear sloping wall 13 and includes an elongated transversely extending slot 17, and a lower slot 18 extending substantially coextensive with the slot 17. The frame members 14 and 16 and side frame members 19 and 20 are connected in rectangular configuration, the frame members 19 and 20, respectively, including elongated aligned slots 21 and 22. A flat plate 23, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, is connected to the frame members 19 and 20, providing therewith an outer ledge 24 and an inner ledge 25.

The discharge arrangement 10 includes a gate arrangement including an upper gate section 26 and a lower gate section 27, the said sections having, respectively, leading edges 28 and 29. The leading edge 29, as best shown in FIG. 7, is disposed horizontally rearwardly with respect to the leading edge 28. The leading edge 28 is adapted to be supported on a plurality of supporting elements 30 which may be horizontally spaced across the front frame member 14. A vertical guide bracket 31 is suitably supported on the rear frame members 16 in horizontally spaced relation. The guide member 31 also includes slots 32 and 33 through which the gate sections 26 and 27 slide during movement between open and closed positions. Vertical connector plates 34, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, connect the sections 26 and 27 for conjoint movement. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, shaft brackets 35 are rigidly connected to the underneath gate section 26 and have integral therewith journal shafts 37. Forward and rearward pairs of shaft brackets 35 are provided as in dicated in FIG. 1. Rollers or wheels 36 are suitably supported on shafts 37 for supporting the gate sections 26 and 27 for rolling movement on the ledge 24. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a seal 38 is positioned in each of the slots 21 and securely bonded therein. The seal is split to provide an upper strip 39 and a-lower strip 40,

respectively, having edges 41 and 42 normally in engaging sealing relation. The seal 38 effectively seals the slots 21 and yet is of a material which permits the journal shafts 37 to freely slide during actuation of the gates to their various positions.

A gate actuating mechanism is generally designated at 43 and includes an attaching frame 44 comprising horizontally spaced angle members 45 which are suitably .connected to upper ends of the walls 12 and 13. The angle members 45 may provide suitable means for attaching the arrangement underneath a hopper of conventional type such as may be utilized in connection with railway cars. As best shown in FIG. 2, the frame members 45 support depending brackets 46 on which a shaft 47 is journaled. .The shaft 47 has connected at one end thereof a large gear 48 which is driven by means of a pinion 49 in turn rotatably supported on a shaft 50 which is also connected to one of the brackets 46. A handle 51 is connected to opposite ends of the shaft 47 which upon rotation provides for driving engagement of the pinion 49 with the gear 48. As best shown in FIG. 4, the gear 48 is provided with a notch 52 which is engaged by a stop latch 53 mounted on a pivot bar 54 pivoted on brackets 46. The stop latch :may be moved relative to the notch 52 by means of a hand lever 55 which may be suitably secured by a conventional car seal (not described).

A pair of arms 56 are rigidly connected to the shaft 47 for movement therewith upon actuation of the gear 48. The arms 56 are each provided at their lower ends with a pivot clevis 57 to which links 58 are connected. Each of the links 58, as best shown in FIG. 6, include a hollow interior 59 and have connected at one end thereof a rigid threaded head 60. A threaded bolt 62 is connected to the head 60 and is secured thereto by means of a jamb nut 61. Each bolt 62 is provided with an eye portion 63 and is connected to an apertured member 64 by means of a pin 65, the said apertured member 64 being suitably connected to the upper section 26, as best shown in FIG. 6.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the gate also is slidable on angle extensions 66 in horizontal registry with the ledges 25. The angle extensions 66 are suitably supported by vertical supports 67 on the hopper discharge arrangement.

OPERATION The gate sections 26 and 27 are shown in the closed position. The car seal lever 55 is in a locked position. When the railway hopper car reaches its destination the car seal is removed and the lever 55 is moved in a counterclockwise direction disengaging the latch 53 from the notch 52. The operator now grasps the handle 51 rotating the shaft 50 whereupon the pinion 49 rotates the gear 48 in a counterclockwise direction which in turn swings the arms 56 to move the gate sections 26 and 27 laterally to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 to an open position with the gate sections being supported on the angle extensions 66.

As best shown in FIG. 7 the gate sections 26 and 27 may be partially opened to the degree desired to control the flow of material from the hopper. The leading edge 28 accomplishes this control and the leading edge 29 of the gate 27 is spaced rearwardly with respect to the leading edge 28 so that there is an unobstructed flow of material from the hopper. The upper gate section 26 thus provides for controlled flow and for sealing the hopper whereas the lower gate 29 provides for additional sealing and prevents dirt and other materials from contacting the upper gate 26 during transit of the car.

In FIG. 6 the linkage arrangement 58 provides for adjustability in varying the length of the bolt 62 to accommodate for structural variations and to permit the desired adjustment so that the gate 26 is properly adjusted and in its movement between opened and closed position by accurate positioning.

It is apparent that by virtue of the roller or wheel construction, with the front wheels 36 moving on the ledges 24 and the rear wheels moving on the angle extensions 66, that the gate can easily be moved despite the content and/or weight of the material contained within the hopper. The seal 38 is of the material that effectively seals and insures against the possibility of any large quantity of material seeping through the slots 21 as the axle or journal portions 37 move along the slot between the edges 41 and 42 of the seal 38. The material of seal 38 may be of a soft pliable rubber which does not detract from the slidability of the shafts relative to the slots 21 and yet sealing integrity is maintained.

The present invention provides for a gate which has a roller mounting, providing quick opening with the application of a relatively small force. Further, the design also combines the sealing features of a conventional slide type gate which effectively seals but is very difficult to open.

The upper gate section may be of a relatively heavier thickness material since it supports the load, whereas the lower gate section may be made of a thin, light material since it does not support much lading and only supports small quantities which might leak beneath the upper gate section. The lower gate section leads the upper load bearing gate section during opening. This prevents the lower section from interfering with the lading released by the top section. The gate actuating mechanism 43 provides for positive and fast opening action. Other arrangements may be utilized which are conventional in the art in combination with the present invention thus achieving the benefits of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hopper discharge arrangement comprising:

a housing including a plurality of walls converging toward a bottom discharge opening,

frame members connected to lower portions of said wall and being interconnected in substantially rectangular configuration below said discharge opening,

a closure gate supported on said frame members for sliding movement from an open position at one side of said discharge opening to a closed position over said opening,

a pair of said frame members having aligned elongated slots,

outwardly projecting ledges on said pair of frame members below said slots,

said gate having first shafts projecting through said slots and first roller means pivoted thereon and being supported on said ledges,

resilient seal means closing each slot,

said resilient seal means comprising upper and lower resilient members respectively connected to upper and lower portions of said frame members defining said slots,

said resilient members having adjacent edges in engaged sealing relation substantially the length of said slots,

said first shafts being slidable between said edges while maintaining the sealing integrity of said slots,

second shafts and roller means on said gate disposed rearwardly and to one side of said discharge openmg,

said ledges having extensions supporting said second shaft and roller means, and

actuating means on said frame for moving said gate between said positions.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said actuating means including a drive pinion,

a gear mounted on said housing driven by said pinion,

an arm connected to said gear for rotating movement therewith, and

link means connecting said arm to said gate.

4 i 4'. i i 

1. A hopper discharge arrangement comprising: a housing including a plurality of walls converging toward a bottom discharge opening, frame members connected to lower portions of said wall and being interconnected in substantially rectangular configuration below said discharge opening, a closure gate supported on said frame members for sliding movement from an open position at one side of said discharge opening to a closed position over said opening, a pair of said frame members having aligned elongated slots, outwardly projecting ledges on said pair of frame members below said slots, said gate having first shafts projecting through said slots and first roller means pivoted thereon and being supported on said ledges, resilient seal means closing each slot, said resilient seal means comprising upper and lower resilient members respectively connected to upper and lower portions of said frame members defining said slots, said resilient members having adjacent edges in engaged sealing relation substantially the length of said slots, said first shafts being slidable between said edges while maintaining the sealing integrity of said slots, second shafts and roller means on said gate disposed rearwardly and to one side of said discharge opening, said ledges having extensions supporting said second shaft and roller means, and actuating means on said frame for moving said gate between said positions.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said actuating means including a drive pinion, a gear mounted on said housing driven by said pinion, an arm connected to said gear for rotating movement therewith, and link means connecting said arm to said gate. 